Method of checking train-announcement data sets via a composition of a vehicle

ABSTRACT

At least one individual car that can be identified individually is contained in the consist. The configuration of an actually observed consist is determined and checked to see whether it matches relevant information data sets. If there is an exact match with one information data set, the latter is assigned to the consist. If there are multiple matches or no matches, the information data set associated with the consist is determined by identification of the individual car.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for checking train informationdata sets for a composition of a consist.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A classification involves rearranging consists arriving from a startinglocation up the line into new consists in accordance with specifiedguidelines for splitting up the consist. For example, a train can beseparated into hierarchic units, with the most comprehensive unitconsisting of the train itself (possibly including the locomotive) and asubgroup of nonpowered cars. The smallest unit to be handled consists ofan individual vehicle (car). For this purpose, a consist to be processedmust be correctly identified. The individual composition of the consistcan be provided in advance to the classification yard in question. Forthis purpose, informational data sets can be transmitted from thelocation where the consist was initially assembled via the stationsthrough which the consist will pass on its way to the classificationyard. In addition, informational data sets can be determined at astation up the line. Since a plurality of consists usually enters aclassification yard, the yard must deal with a plurality of traininformation data sets that arrive. An important prerequisite forproperly separating the cars and forming these cars into new consists ineach case involves assigning to the consist as it arrives, out of theplurality of informational data sets, the particular data set thatactually represents the configuration of that consist.

German Patent Application No. 30 36 472 describes (when identifyingindividual wobbling cars by type) a process in which the actual play iscompared with the normal play of a retarder as it operates. Althoughthis method makes it basically possible to detect cars that exhibit awobbling behavior, individual identification of a certain car or consistis not possible.

German Patent Application No. 29 31 085 describes a device fordetermining the number of axles of the cars in a consist, these cars notbeing equipped together with an effective marking, with other carsequipped with effective markings. The determination of the number ofaxles in a consist is a first important criterion for identifying aconsist. Used alone, however, this method only provides limitedidentification form, so that it is possible that an improperidentification of the consist can be made. Improperly identifiedconsists may be assigned an incorrect information data set which thenresults in an incorrect division of the consist. The correction that isthen necessary involves considerable expense and time.

East Germany Patent Application No. 229 657 describes a method fordetermining the number of cars, the distance between axles, the lengthsof the individual cars, and the total length of a consist. Using twotrack switches, arranged with a distance between them that is shorterthan the shortest distance between axles in a truck, the axle intervalsare determined from the average axle speeds and the time intervalsbetween the passages of axles over the track switches. The axleintervals thus determined are compared with predetermined type-specificreference values to determine the type of car.

European Patent Application No. 0 433 756 describes a system formonitoring and controlling freight cars, with each individual freightcar being equipped with an individual identification marking. Althoughthis system provides clear identification of the smallest subunit (e.g.individual car) and thus providing a very high identificationprobability, equipping all of the cars in an existing fleet withsuitable individual identification markings is unacceptable from aeconomic standpoint and also cannot be carried out immediately.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a method forchecking information data sets whose reliability in assigning a givenset of information data to a given consist is considerably improved andcan be practically applied to a small number of individuallyidentifiable individual cars, especially during an introductory phase ofafter retrofitting in which individual identification markings areapplied or in the case of frequent failure of other suitableidentification methods. The method is also intended to permit monitoringof the information data sets.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A method according to the present invention is provided for checking atleast one information data set for a composition of a consist with atleast one individual car being identified individually, wherein

the configuration of a currently observed consist is determined andchecked for correspondence with the configuration according to therespective information data set, and

when precise correspondence with one information data set is achieved,the latter is assigned to the observed consist, and

when there is no match, an error message is generated,

and in the event of multiple mismatches or no matches at all, theinformation data set is assigned to the observed consist that includesthe individually identified single car, and

an error message is generated if the information data set assigned as afunction of the match does not include the individually identifiedsingle car.

One of important advantages of the method according to the the presentinvention is that the configuration determined for the consist underobservation as a function of the additional identification of at leastone individual car in the consist is used both for monitoring and/orretroactive correction if an information data set has already beenassigned and for making decisions in the case of ambivalent or uncertainassignment possibilities. The method according to the present inventionthus permits introduction of individual identification in stages, witheven a small number of cars already so equipped resulting in aconsiderable increase in the reliability of identification of theconsist. The method according to the present invention also introducesmethods for identifying individual cars whose typical error rates theseindividuals cars being used alone. The individual cars are preferablyequipped with individual identification markings and can be identifiedautomatically.

Another embodiment of the method according to the present invention fordetermining the configuration of the consist includes determining suchconfiguration as a function of a number of axles and an axle interval.The recognition criteria that can be derived may be one advantageousembodiment of the invention, can be further improved by determining andusing the sequence of the cars.

Especially flexible and reliable identification of the individual carsis made possible according to yet another embodiment according to thepresent invention since a surface wave reflector is used as thecar-specific identification marking, such reflector described in thearticle "Der intelligente Guterwagen," by ("The Intelligent FreightCar") R. Grolms and M. Jung in Transport--und Umschlagtechnik, Vol. 54,1994. An alternative identification principle can also include a videoidentification of the individual car numbers, in which the acomparatively small number of individual cars can be sufficientlyidentified, due to the car numbers being obscured by dirt for example.As a result, video identification methods can be used with error ratesof about 50%, which would be unsuitable if used alone for reliableidentification of a consist.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a classification yard operated using a method according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a comparison of a current consist with relevant informationdata sets.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic flowchart of the method according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a plurality of consists VB1, VB2, VB3, VB4 through VBnwhose configurations by consist are determined in advance and are eachrepresented in the form of information data sets VM1, VM2, VM3, VM4through VMn. The configurations formed when the consists are initiallyassembled can be recorded and passed on as the consist travels fromstation to station or can be recorded for example at a detection stationlocated up the line from a classification yard RA. Each consist VB1through VBn (located anywhere in the train) at least one individual carEF1, EF2, EF3, EF4 through EFn that can be identified individually by anindividual identification marking IK1 to IKn. The identificationmarking, IK1 for example, contains information about the type of car andthe car number so that each individual car EF is clearly identified. Inaddition, the identification characteristics can contain additionalinformation about e.g., contents, origin, and destination of theindividual car (EF1 for example) or its consist (VB1 for example).

Information data sets VM1 to VMn contain information about the axleinterval AA. This information is shown in FIG. 1 as dimensional numbersthat indicate the individual relative spacings of adjacent axles. Forexample, the distance between the first two axles A11 and A12 in thefirst car F11 in consist VB1 is "3" and the distance between the lastaxle A12 of the first car F11 and the first axle A13 of the followingcar F12 is "2". In similar fashion, the other axle intervals in consistVB1 and in all the other consists can be determined. In addition, thecar ends WE (e.g. car sequence) are detected in travel direction A andincluded in each set of information data. The distances between axles atthe ends of the cars are underlined. Thus, for example, axle interval"2" is underlined between axles A12 and A13 of consist VB1.Alternatively, with a continuous numbering of the axles, the axles atthe ends of the cars can be characterized individually. In addition, theinformation data sets VMn each give the total number Z of axles in agiven consist. The axle configurations are determined in advance as theconsist passes a recording unit AE located up the line, as described in,e.g., East German Patent Application No. 229 657, as indicated forconsist VMn.

Information data VMn are transmitted to classification yard RA which hasan evaluation and comparison unit AV. The evaluation unit AV determinesthe axle configuration in a suitable manner for consist VBx that iscurrently under observation, with the total number of axles, the axleinterval AA, and the axles at the car ends being determined. Then thecurrent configuration 3215123214123, referred to as AKON (total numberε: 14) can be obtained. In addition, a recognition device EK is providedfor individual identification markings IK.

As shown in FIG. 2, the current AKON configuration is then compared incomparison device AV (shown in FIG. 1) with the information data VM inquestion. Although there is a match when comparing the total number ε ofaxles (14 axles in each case) between the current AKON configuration ofconsist VBx and the first set of information data VM1, the actualconfiguration differs considerably from information data set VM1 as faras the axle intervals and car ends are concerned (car sequence).Information data VM1 are therefore rejected as incorrect for consistVBx. In addition, the comparison (not shown in FIG. 2) of informationdata VMn and the actual configuration shows a considerable difference asfar as the total number of axles (12/14) is concerned. FIG. 2 shows thatonly two information data sets VM2 and VM4 are shown, both of which, asfar as the total number of axles, axle intervals, and car ends areconcerned, show a complete match with the actual AKON configuration. Inorder for the configuration of the currently observed consist to beavailable, a manual determination must be made immediately as to whichconsist is actually involved, VM2 or VM4. By additional evaluation ofidentification markings IKx on the first car EF of the consist beingobserved, VBx, not only is the first car individually identified butthis information can be used to draw conclusions regarding all ofconsist VBx. The individual car EF4 (shown in FIG. 1), because of theclearly identified car number and car position, leads to the conclusionthat this can only be consist VB4 according to information data set VM4.Only this consist VM4 has in its first position the individual car EF4which corresponds to the first car EFx of consist VBx not only as far asits axle configuration is concerned but also in terms of its car number.For individual identification, surface wave reflectors known ofthemselves can be used as identification markings IK. Alternatively,video detection can be provided for optical scanning and identificationof individual car numbers.

As an alternative, it may be necessary for the information data sets toinclude information data VM4. In this case, according to the comparisondescribed with respect to FIG. 2 information data set VM2 is assigned toconsist VBx that corresponds in terms of its axle configuration and thetotal number of axles to the current AKON configuration. While verifyingthe identification marking IKx, it would also become apparent that itwas not individual car EF2 but another individual car EFx that wasidentified in consist VBx. Accordingly, an error message FEH2 would begenerated, indicating that an improper has been received and thuspreventing subsequent improper handling of consist VBx.

The relationships described above can be summarized in a flowchart shownin FIG. 3. In a first step 100, the currently determined AKONconfiguration of current consist VBx (shown as AKON (VBx)) is comparedwith applicable information data VM1 to VMn reported earlier. If thiscomparison produces an exact match, consist VBx is initially assignedthe corresponding information data set VMi (AKON (VBx)=in step 105). Ifon the other hand there is no match (n) or a multiple (n) match [AKON(VBx))≠VM1 to VMn or AKON (VBx)=VM2 and VM4], the information associatedwith the observed consist VBx is determined by individual identificationof an individual car. If query 110 an assignment was not possiblebecause the identified individual car EFx was not included in any of theapplicable information data sets VM2 or VM4, an error message FEH1 isgenerated just as if there is no match. According to the case shown inFIG. 2, information data set VM4 is assigned to consist VBx. If there isa definite match (determined in query 100), an additional test isperformed (in query 110) to determine whether the individual car EFi tobe expected in consist VBx according to identification marking IKxactually is contained in consist VBx. If this is the case, it can bedecided with a high degree of reliability that the current consist hasbeen correctly identified and it can be concluded that an appropriatelycorrect assignment of the information data has been made (OK).Otherwise, an error message FEH2 is output (in step 115) on the basis ofwhich an improper division of consist VBx is prevented or is detectedlater and corrected retroactively.

We claim:
 1. A method for checking at least one information data set for a composition of at least one consist, comprising the steps of:determining a first configuration of a currently observed consist of the at least one consist; comparing the first configuration of the currently observed consist with a second configuration corresponding to the at least one information data set; if the first configuration precisely corresponds to the second configuration, assigning the second configuration to the first configuration of the currently observed consist; if the first configuration does not match the second configuration, generating a first error message; if the first configuration does not match the second configuration or if more than one configuration matches the second configuration, assigning a third configuration corresponding to a first data set of the at least one information data set to the first configuration of the currently observed consist, the first data set including at least one individually identified car; and if the first configuration precisely corresponds to the second configuration and if the currently observed consist does not include the at least one individually identified car, generating a second error message.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:determining a number of axles and axle intervals to form the at least one information data set and to determine the first, second and third configurations.
 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:determining a car sequence to further form the at least one information data set.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the individually identified car includes a surface wave reflector for providing a car-specific identification marking.
 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:identifying a complete car number of the at least one individually identified car using a video identification system. 